Partition for candle container

ABSTRACT

A partition for use in a container for a flame-bearing illumination source is disclosed. In one embodiment, the container substantially defines an interior volume and the partition is inside the container, defining at least one hole. The container may have a flared end and may be transparent or translucent. The partition may be transparent or translucent; may comprise plastic, polymer, polycarbonate, glass, or ceramic; may comprise only non-metallic materials; and may define only one hole.

BACKGROUND

The invention pertains to the field of containers or enclosures forcandles and other flame-bearing illumination sources.

In modern times, candles and other flame-bearing illumination sourcessuch as oil and kerosene lamps and lanterns are often used fordecorative purposes in secular society. Numerous types and styles ofpractical and decorative containers and enclosures for candles exist, acategory of which is known as “hurricane” containers or enclosures. Thepresent invention is a partition that has been developed to be readilyused with hurricane containers or enclosures or any lamp or candlecontainer or enclosures having a flared end, although it may be adaptedfor use in connection with any type of container for a candle or lamp.The partition aids in maintaining combustion of the candle or otherflame-bearing illumination source particularly in drafty or windyconditions.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, in an open-ended container for a flame-bearingillumination source wherein the container substantially defines aninterior volume, the improvement comprises a substantially flatpartition inside the container wherein the partition defines at leastone hole. In this embodiment, the container may have a flared end andmay be transparent or translucent. The partition may be transparent ortranslucent; may comprise plastic, polymer, polycarbonate, glass, orceramic; may comprise only non-metallic materials; and may define onlyone hole.

In another embodiment, in an open-ended container for a flame-bearingillumination source wherein the container comprises one or more sidewalls substantially defining an interior volume, the improvementcomprises a partition in the container wherein the partition has aperimeter and defines at least one hole and wherein at least a portionof the perimeter of the partition is in contact with the one or moreside walls of the container. In this embodiment, the entire perimeter ofthe partition may also be substantially in contact with the one or moreside walls of the container. Further, the container may have a flaredend and may be transparent or translucent. The partition may besubstantially flat; may be transparent or translucent; may compriseplastic, polymer, polycarbonate, glass, or ceramic; may comprise onlynon-metallic materials; and may define only one hole.

In another embodiment, in an open-ended transparent or translucentcontainer for a flame-bearing illumination source wherein the containerhas a flared end and comprises one or more side walls substantiallydefining an interior volume, the improvement comprises a transparent ortranslucent partition in the container wherein the partition issubstantially flat and has a perimeter and defines at least one hole andwherein at least a portion of the perimeter of the partition is incontact with the one or more side walls of the container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a partition in anopen-ended container for a flame-bearing illumination source.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of a partition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an open-ended container 10 for a candle 12 or otherflame-bearing illumination source. The container 10 has a base 14, aside wall 16, and an open end 18 defined by a rim or edge 20 of the sidewall 16. The base 14, side wall 16, and rim or edge 20 of the side wall16 substantially define an interior volume 22 of the container 10. Inthis embodiment, the side wall 16 also defines a narrow portion that maybe alternatively referred to as a waist, neck, or throat portion 24 ofthe container 10, as well as flared portion 26 of the container 10. Thebase 14 of the container 10 defines a hole or seat 28 in which a candle12 or other flame-bearing illumination source may be placed.

The container 10 may be transparent or translucent. Alternatively, oneor more portions of the container 10 may be opaque. The container 10 maybe constructed of glass, ceramic, or other material suitable forcontaining or enclosing a candle 12 or other flame-bearing illuminationsource.

A partition 30 is placed in the interior volume 22 of the container 10.The partition 30 has a perimeter 32. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1, the perimeter 32 of the partition 30 rests against the side wall16 of the container 10 above the throat 24 in the flared portion 26. Asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the partition defines at least one hole 34,which, in the case of one hole, may be substantially centered in thepartition 30. The partition 30 and its perimeter 32 may be substantiallycircular as shown in the embodiments in FIGS. 1 and 2, or they maydefine different shapes suitable for differently shaped containers (notshown). The partition may be substantially flat as illustrated inFIG. 1. The partition 30 may be transparent or translucent and maycomprise plastic, polymer, polycarbonate, glass, or ceramic. In someembodiments, the partition 30 may comprise only non-metallic materials,and in some embodiments, as in those depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, thepartition 30 may define only one hole.

In use, the partition 30 is placed in the container 10 such that theentire perimeter 32 of the partition 30 is substantially in contact withthe side wall 16 of the container 10. Particular embodiments may varythe size of the hole 34 or the location of the partition 30 in thecontainer 10 relative to a flame (not shown) in order to sufficientlyshield the flame from drafts or wind. As shown in the embodiment in FIG.1, the hole 34 is in substantial vertical alignment with the wick 36 ofthe candle 12 so that the heat and smoke from the flame (not shown) canescape from the container 10. If the hole 34 is sized too small, theflame may not receive sufficient air or oxygen to maintain combustion.

In alternative embodiments (not shown), the partition 30 may define morethan one hole for aesthetic purposes, in order to provide additionalventilation to the flame, or for both reasons. In yet other embodiments(not shown), the perimeter 32 of the partition 30 may be varied suchthat only portions of the perimeter 32 contact the side wall 16 suchthat when the partition 30 is inserted into the container 10, theportions of the perimeter 32 not in contact with the side wall 16 of thecontainer 10 and the side wall 16 of the container 10 define one or moreholes or apertures.

As shown in the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2, the partition 30 issubstantially circular and may be used in containers 10 havingcylindrical or conical shapes. The partition may be made in differentshapes in order to be placed in differently-shaped containers. There isno requirement for correlating the shape of the partition with aparticular container, therefore, for example, a circularly-shapedpartition may be placed in a container having a square shape.

While the partition 30 has been described in reference to some exemplaryembodiments, these embodiments are not limiting and are not necessarilyexclusive of each other, and it is contemplated that particular featuresof various embodiments may be omitted or combined for use with featuresof other embodiments while remaining within the scope of the invention.

Further, the term “container” is intended as a generic term to captureother words that may be used to describe enclosures for flame-bearingillumination sources, such as, by way of illustration and notlimitation, “globe,” “shade,” “chimney,” or “enclosure.”

1. In an open-ended container for a flame-bearing illumination sourcewherein the container substantially defines an interior volume, theimprovement comprising: a substantially flat partition inside thecontainer wherein the partition defines at least one hole.
 2. Theimprovement of claim 1, further comprising: wherein the container has aflared end.
 3. The improvement of claim 1, further comprising: whereinthe container is transparent or translucent.
 4. The improvement of claim1, further comprising: wherein the partition is transparent ortranslucent.
 5. The improvement of claim 1, further comprising: whereinthe partition comprises only non-metallic materials.
 6. The improvementof claim 1, further comprising: wherein the partition comprises one ofplastic, polymer, polycarbonate, glass, or ceramic.
 7. The improvementof claim 1, further comprising: wherein the partition defines only onehole.
 8. In an open-ended container for a flame-bearing illuminationsource wherein the container comprises one or more side wallssubstantially defining an interior volume, the improvement comprising: apartition in the container wherein the partition has a perimeter anddefines at least one hole; and wherein at least a portion of theperimeter of the partition is in contact with the one or more side wallsof the container.
 9. The improvement of claim 8, further comprising:wherein the entire perimeter of the partition is substantially incontact with the one or more side walls of the container.
 10. Theimprovement of claim 8, further comprising: wherein the partition issubstantially flat.
 11. The improvement of claim 8, further comprising:wherein the container has a flared end.
 12. The improvement of claim 8,further comprising: wherein the container is transparent or translucent.13. The improvement of claim 8, further comprising: wherein thepartition is transparent or translucent.
 14. The improvement of claim 8,further comprising: wherein the partition comprises only non-metallicmaterials.
 15. The improvement of claim 8, further comprising: whereinthe partition comprises one of plastic, polymer, polycarbonate, glass,or ceramic.
 16. The improvement of claim 8, further comprising: whereinthe partition defines only one hole.
 17. In an open-ended transparent ortranslucent container for a flame-bearing illumination source whereinthe container has a flared end and comprises one or more side wallssubstantially defining an interior volume, the improvement comprising: atransparent or translucent partition in the container wherein thepartition is substantially flat and has a perimeter and defines at leastone hole; and wherein at least a portion of the perimeter of thepartition is in contact with the one or more side walls of thecontainer.